Day trips from Cabo San Lucas: four by road, one by sea
Four day trips by road and one by sea from Cabo San Lucas, with drive times and who each one suits.
In this guide
The best day trips from Cabo San Lucas are Todos Santos (about an hour north), San José del Cabo (30 minutes east), Cabo Pulmo (a little over 2 hours, partly on dirt road) and La Paz (2 to 2.5 hours). There's also one that needs no car at all: a 5 to 8 hour private boat from the marina to the snorkel coves at Santa María and Chileno.
Which one is right depends on how much of your day you're willing to spend in a car.
How far is each day trip from Cabo San Lucas?
| Trip | Getting there | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| San José del Cabo | 20 miles, about 30 minutes | A half day or an evening |
| Todos Santos | 48 miles, about 1 hour | Couples, a slow day, galleries |
| Cabo Pulmo | 61 miles, 2 hours or more | Snorkelers and divers |
| La Paz and Espíritu Santo | 100 miles, 2 to 2.5 hours | Wildlife, better with a night |
| Santa María and Chileno by boat | No drive, 5 to 8 hours on the water | Groups, families, snorkeling |
Drive times are one way from downtown Cabo San Lucas in normal traffic. Add time if you're staying on the corridor or leaving from San José.
A few things apply to every road trip here. Fill the tank before you leave town, carry water, and plan to be back before dark. Cabo is on Mountain Standard Time all year, and so is everywhere on this list.
San José del Cabo: the half-day trip
San José is the other town in Los Cabos, about 20 miles east along the corridor. It's older and quieter than Cabo San Lucas, and you can see the center on foot in a few hours.
Start at Plaza Mijares and the mission church, then walk the gallery streets behind it. On Thursdays from November to June, the Art Walk keeps the galleries open from 5 to 9 PM, and it's free. In the morning, the estuary at the edge of town has a walking trail and a lot of birds.
The beach in front of the San José hotels has a steep drop and a strong undertow, so swim somewhere else. Our things to do in San José del Cabo guide covers which beaches work.
Todos Santos: the easy full day
Todos Santos is a Pueblo Mágico about 48 miles north on Highway 19, up the Pacific side. The drive takes about an hour and is the simplest on this list.
Go for the cobblestone streets, the galleries and a long lunch. It's a small town, and three or four hours is enough to walk it without rushing. The Pacific beaches nearby have heavy surf, so ask locally before anyone goes in the water.
In winter, bring binoculars for a stop on the way, because whales pass along that Pacific coast. They start arriving in November, and January and February are the peak.
Todos Santos suits couples and anyone who wants a break from the resort strip. With small kids it can feel like a lot of walking and shops. Our Todos Santos day trip guide has the details.
Cabo Pulmo: the reef, and a long drive
Cabo Pulmo National Park protects a living coral reef on the Sea of Cortez side, up the East Cape. It became a national park in 1995 and has been part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. More than 400 species of fish have been recorded there.
It's about 61 miles from Cabo San Lucas. The map says a little over 2 hours, but the last few miles are unpaved washboard, and plenty of people report closer to 3 hours each way. Ask your rental company about that stretch before you go, and take it slowly.
That works out to four to six hours of driving for a few hours in the water. For keen snorkelers and divers it's worth it. For a mixed group that mostly wants a swim and some fish, it usually isn't, and the coves closer to town do the job. Our Cabo Pulmo guide goes through the rules and the best months.
La Paz and Espíritu Santo: better as an overnight
La Paz is the state capital, about 100 miles north. Via Highway 19 through Todos Santos, the drive takes 2 to 2.5 hours each way. The city has a waterfront promenade, the malecón, that runs about 3.5 miles along the bay.
Most people go for the water. Boats leave La Paz for Espíritu Santo, an island that is part of the same UNESCO World Heritage listing as Cabo Pulmo. At its north end is Los Islotes, a sea lion colony where swimming and snorkeling are allowed from September through May and closed from June through August for the breeding season.
La Paz also has a whale shark season. The official season runs from October to April, and tours usually start once enough animals have arrived, which in recent years has been around mid-November. Access is regulated, with licensed boats and limits on swimmers.
Add it up and you get four to five hours of driving plus a boat tour that takes most of a day. You can do it as a day trip with a very early start, but one night in La Paz makes it a far better trip. Our La Paz day trip guide lays out both ways.
If sea lions are the draw, Cabo has its own. The colony on the rocks by the Arch is 1.3 miles from the marina, and captains idle nearby so you can watch.
The day trip by sea: Santa María and Chileno
This is the one where nobody drives. The full-day route runs 5 to 8 hours and 18.5 miles round trip: out of the marina, past the sea lions and the Arch, then up the corridor coast to both coves, with time to snorkel each and lunch at anchor.
Santa María Bay is a sheltered horseshoe cove 6.7 miles from the marina, with reef along both points and clear water. Chileno Bay is the next cove over, 7.9 miles out, with a sandy bottom and reef on both sides. The ride home comes back along Médano Beach.
Compared with a road trip, the travel time is part of the day. You're on deck with a cooler while the coast goes by, and the group stays together the whole time. Our Santa María vs Chileno comparison explains how the two coves differ.
Our routes stay between Land's End and Chileno Bay. The yachts don't run to Cabo Pulmo or La Paz, which are far up the coast and reached by road.
Which yacht for a full day?
| Yacht | Guests | 5 hours | 6 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea Ray 40 | Up to 12 | USD 1,769 / MXN 33,699 | USD 1,979 / MXN 37,699 |
| Azimut 45 | Up to 12 | USD 2,559 / MXN 48,699 | USD 2,979 / MXN 56,699 |
| Sea Ray 55 | Up to 15 | USD 3,239 / MXN 61,599 | USD 3,759 / MXN 71,499 |
Prices are per boat, with 16% IVA tax included. The customary 15% crew tip is not included.
The Sea Ray 55 is the pick for bigger groups and families. It's a 55 ft flybridge motor yacht with air conditioning, cabins and heads, which matters over six hours with kids or grandparents on board. With 15 guests, six hours comes to about USD 251 per person.
The Azimut 45 Flybridge takes up to 12 and includes towels, snorkel gear, and a cooler with ice, water and sodas.
The Sea Ray 40 is the value option for a long day. It includes snorkel gear, towels, bottled water and ice, and it has an 8 hour price: USD 2,419 (MXN 45,999), about USD 202 per person with 12 on board.
For lunch at anchor, you can bring your own food or order from the menu in the planner. The Mexican feast for 6 to 8 people is MXN 2,600, and box lunches run MXN 238 to 289 each. Those are cash prices, and paying by card adds 16%. We don't sell or serve alcohol, so guests 18 and over bring their own.
Here are the places from this guide on a map.
Tap a number to find it on the map.
- San José del CaboHistoric center and mission, about 30 minutes by carDirections
- Todos SantosPueblo Mágico about an hour northDirections
- Cabo Pulmo National ParkCoral reef, about two hours by carDirections
- La Paz waterfrontTwo to two and a half hours by roadDirections
- Santa María BaySheltered cove with reef, 6.7 miles from the marinaDirections
- Chileno BaySandy bottom with reef on both sidesDirections
How many day trips fit in one stay?
On a four or five day trip, one road day and one boat day is about right. More than that and you spend the vacation in transit.
- Three days: skip the long drives. Do the boat, and San José on one evening.
- Four days: add Todos Santos.
- Five days or more: choose between Cabo Pulmo and a night in La Paz.
Don't put a long drive and a boat on the same day, and don't schedule either on the day you land. Our 3, 4 and 5 day itineraries show how the pieces fit.
On weather: the Port Captain closes the harbor only under a storm threat or another extraordinary situation, and most closures fall between September and mid-October. If your boat day is affected, you pick a new date or get a full refund. That flexibility is one reason to put the boat early in the trip and keep a road trip as the backup.
Booking the boat day
Send your date, group size and the hours you want through the planner, and mention that you want both coves. We reply within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time, and confirm in writing before any payment. Departures start at 7 AM, and for snorkeling an early start is worth it, since the water is usually calmer before midday.
Yachts in this guide
Questions people ask
What is the best day trip from Cabo San Lucas?
Todos Santos is the easiest by road, about 48 miles and an hour up Highway 19. If you'd rather not drive, a 5 to 8 hour private boat to Santa María and Chileno bays leaves from the marina in town.
Can you do a day trip from Cabo to La Paz?
Yes, but it's a long one. La Paz is about 100 miles north, 2 to 2.5 hours each way, and the boat tours to Espíritu Santo island take most of a day on their own. One night there works better.
How far is Cabo Pulmo from Cabo San Lucas?
About 61 miles, a little over 2 hours by car, and the last few miles are unpaved and rough. Plan the whole day and leave early.
How long is the drive from Cabo San Lucas to Todos Santos?
About an hour. Todos Santos is roughly 48 miles north on Highway 19, along the Pacific side.
How much is a full-day private boat in Cabo?
Eight hours on the Sea Ray 40 costs USD 2,419 (MXN 45,999) per boat for up to 12 guests, tax included. Six hours on the Sea Ray 55, for up to 15, is USD 3,759 (MXN 71,499).
Plan your day on the water
Pick a yacht, the hours and the food in the planner. A written reply within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time.
Keep reading
Things to doTodos Santos Day Trip From Cabo: Is It Worth It?Todos Santos is 48 miles and about an hour from Cabo on Highway 19: what to see, where not to swim, how to plan.7 min read
Things to doLa Paz Day Trip from Cabo: Drive, Bus and What to SeeHow far La Paz is from Cabo, how to get there, what the islands and whale sharks involve, and why to stay one night.8 min read
Beaches and snorkelingCabo Pulmo National Park: Snorkeling, Diving, the DriveCabo Pulmo is a protected reef about 2 hours from Cabo San Lucas. The drive, the rules, the best months and a closer snorkel option.7 min read
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